Despite a heartbreaking 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Madagascar in the CHAN 2024 quarter-finals on Friday, August 22, the Harambee Stars earned praise for their competitive spirit. While some players garnered significant media attention, the article highlights four unsung heroes crucial to their impressive run.

• Sylvester Owino, centre-back, was a defensive pillar, playing 90 minutes in every match except the quarter-final, showcasing positional discipline and aerial strength.
• Midfielder Alpha Onyango dictated play and broke up attacks, logging 117 minutes against Madagascar, freeing up teammates for offensive plays.
• Michael Kibwage, another centre-back, provided calm and reliability, notably performing a critical goal-line clearance against Zambia, earning a rating of 7.2.
• Goalkeeper Faruk Shikalo, despite fewer minutes, secured a clean sheet against Zambia, ensuring Kenya topped Group A, and was influential off-pitch.